An incident at an elementary school in northern Poland, in which a teacher removed a cross from a classroom wall, sparked a debate about religious tolerance and respect for traditions in public institutions. The teacher was temporarily suspended from work and faces disciplinary proceedings and an investigation by the prosecutor’s office.
A December incident at an elementary school in Kiel, northern Poland, sparked a national debate about public schools and respect for religious symbols. According to the students, the teacher there took the cross off the wall during class and threw it in the trash. The parents filed a criminal complaint and the teacher was temporarily suspended from work. Information about the case from the Polish media was summarized by the Warsaw correspondent TASR.
- An incident at a school in Poland sparked a passionate social debate.
- The teacher hung up the cross and threw it in the bin.
- The parents filed a criminal complaint against the teacher for insulting religious feelings.
- The Minister of Education proposed milder punishments for such cases.
- A protest was held in front of the school to defend the religious symbol.
The teacher threw the cross into the bin
According to testimonies, the teacher first asked that the students themselves hang the cross. When they refused, she took off the cross herself and threw it in the trash. The parents therefore submitted a notification to the prosecutor’s office on suspicion of committing the crime of insulting religious sentiments. Szemuda mayor Ryszard Kalkowski confirmed that the thrown cross was seized as evidence and replaced with a new one. According to the Onet portal, he was hanged several times, but the students always hung him back.
Justice Minister Waldemar Žurek announced on Thursday on Polsat News that the prosecutor’s office is dealing with the matter and called for respect for Polish traditions and religious feelings. According to the law, the teacher faces a prison sentence of up to two years. However, according to the minister, such actions should be punished by a fine or a ban on working in public institutions.
Nowacka: Regardless of what one believes in, everyone has the right to have their faith respected
The Minister of Education Barbara Nowacka also responded to the case, who announced in an interview for TVN 24 on Thursday that disciplinary proceedings had been initiated against the teacher. “Regardless of what someone believes in, everyone has the right to respect for their faith. Such behavior is socially unacceptable,” the minister emphasized.
Archbishop Tadeusz Wojda, the chairman of the Conference of Bishops of Poland, also condemned the incident on Wednesday. He thanked the parents and teachers who stood up to defend the symbol of faith. “The cross, a symbol of the sacrifice that Jesus Christ made out of love for every person, has a special place not only in the hearts of believers, but also in our Polish tradition and culture,” he said. On Wednesday morning, according to the Misyjne portal, a peaceful protest by parents and residents of the village took place in front of the school.
